Landscaping can do more than beautify your home. If planned well enough, landscaping can also keep your home cool during the warmest months and help you lower electricity bills, too. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy has found that strategic landscaping can help you save up to 25% on your electricity bill, which is great for both the earth and your wallet.
With the summer heat coming up quickly for those of us living in Cocoa, Merrit Island or Suntree, Florida, now is the perfect time to implement these landscaping tricks that can keep your home cool and save you money on electricity bills…even during the hottest months of the year!
Landscaping for a Cooler Home and Lower Energy Bill: How Does it Work?
If you’re native to the Sunshine State, chances are you already know that Florida is the most humid state in the U.S. With humidity and heat nearing 100 degrees during the peak of summer, it’s no surprise that electricity bills skyrocket from May until September. One great way to limit the summer’s effect on your home is to utilize smart landscaping, which makes use of the summer breezes and provides natural shade.
Any landscaping that provides shade will create an extra barrier between the sun and your home. For natural shade, plants like vines, shrubs and trees work best. But before you head over to the closest hardware store or nursery, take some time to devise a thoughtful plan since landscaping, gardening and the like can be fickle. In the meantime, here are some suggestions to get you started.
Vines
Vines are a surprising way to give your home some extra cooling power and lower your electricity bills during summer. As vines grow up the sides of your home, they create a barrier between the sun and your home. This makes it harder for the weather to influence the temperature indoors and will give your AC a break. Lots of vine varieties can thrive in Florida’s hot and humid climate, making them low maintenance. It also doesn’t hurt that vines can be absolutely beautiful too!
Shrubs and Bushes
Besides being aesthetically pleasing, shrubs can also keep your home cool in more ways than one. Planting shrubs near windows and along the sides of your home can create an extra barrier between the sun and your home. This makes it harder for your home to induct outside heat, so you’ll be cool and comfy indoors without having to crank the AC on all day long.
Another way to utilize shrubs is by planting them near the condenser unit of your air conditioner. When the sun shines down on your condenser unit, it has to work harder to cool itself down, which can increase your energy costs. But by creating additional shade for the condenser unit, your system won’t have to work overtime to cool your home.
Trees
Did you know that planting well-placed trees could save you upwards of $250 each year on your energy bills? Trees provide extra shade to your home, which means your AC won’t have to work as hard to cool your home. If you choose to plant trees, opt for trees that have high branches and spreading crowns to provide optimal shade. And don’t forget: keep your tree branches well maintained during hurricane season! Nobody likes the chances of fallen branches during a severe thunderstorm.
Landscaping Not Cutting It? Lower Your Energy Bill with Colman Air
When landscaping tricks aren’t enough, call the professionals at Colman Air. We offer an extensive list of quality products and services that keep your home cool without increasing your energy bills. We also service many areas up the Space Coast, including Merrit Island, Viera, Cocoa, Suntree and Rockledge, Florida. Give us a call today to learn more ways you can keep cool for less, or schedule your next service appointment online!
